Feedback forms were completed by every participant of each course. These invited scores and comments regarding each component of each course, the helpfulness of the courses in general and of the work of the Care Africa Network. They also welcomed suggestions for improvements, which CAN tried to incorporate where possible into future courses.

Detailed charts showing the feedback scores on each dimension of every course are reported in the training report for each year (see links on previous pages). Almost without exception, all the components of all courses were scored between good and excellent or between very good and excellent and the courses and work of CAN reported to be very helpful or extremely helpful. The CAN Methods course seemed to be particularly valued as eye-opening, important for the African culture and needed elsewhere. There were also inspiring comments such as:

-   CAN spreads new innovative ideas of helping orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) which may not be known elsewhere in Africa

-   It was appreciated that CAN enables care of orphans and vulnerable children in the community.

-   CAN impacts on changing lives of OVC by educating in strategies essential for generating incomes, sustaining economic and social stability. It promotes sustainable development

-   It made me proud of our traditional extended family systems for caring for children in Lesotho, and made me realise that it is up to me as a social worker to encourage communities to continue to care for one another and most importantly never let go of our good practice of recognising that it takes a village to rear a child

-   What is helpful is that it differs from other organisations in that it does not only provide aid to the OVC but also promotes empowerment to break the cycle of dependency

-   CAN helps rebuild African communities. Its beneficial impact on the lives of OVC could be increased if CAN disseminated its courses to as many other African countries as possible

-   By sharing information about successful projects from elsewhere we have been made aware how we can change the lives of our OVC by starting such projects

-   It enables us to empower the most vulnerable groups in society

-   It deals with issues that are not included in Africa's academic curriculum. Therefore CAN is the best thing ever

-   The more people given this type of training, the more they can be creative in coming up with strategies for helping and empowering vulnerable and orphaned children

-   It is of greatest importance and impact on shaping or encouraging the care of OVC in Africa

-   Thank you for such a mind-opening workshop

-   Very insightful course

-   Excellent course

-   The course is vital for the academic curriculum, and it can be of crucial importance in enhancing and empowering community-development programmes for vulnerable groups

-   CAN helps rebuild African communities. Its beneficial impact on the lives of OVC could be increased if CAN disseminated their courses to as many other African countries as possible

-   The courses inspired and empowered us to make a difference for children in need

-   The course empowers social workers

-   It motivated us as future social workers to come up with more projects that will help OVC

-   The trainer was 'very positive and encouraging' that [participants] too could achieve their ambitions with hard work and they now had the skill to help children in their own villages and areas and to create jobs for themselves

-   [The lecturer's] work inspires more people to help OVC.

Some said they would like to join CAN and spread the course further afield. It was also said that:

-   the projects they had devised made them aware of their own capabilities and that they were inspired by hearing about others who had made their dreams concerning helping vulnerable children become a reality

-   CAN has inspired me to do my best in helping to change the world

-   The course should be made available to university lecturers, and more widely to all those working to improve the lives of OVC. The ideas should be made available worldwide

-   My wish is that the courses could reach all parts of Africa. I wish it could help to shape Africa as a whole

-   CAN helps rebuild African communities. Its beneficial impact on the lives of OVC could be increased if it disseminated its courses to as many other African countries as possible

-   I would like CAN to establish itself in all countries of the world because together we can beat all obstacles facing the orphans and vulnerable children

-   I would like to acknowledge your efforts. The work you are doing is touching hearts and if correctly applied it is really going to change the world and create communities which are eager to take care of, and take full responsibility for, their orphans and vulnerable children.

-   CAN gives hope to children

-   It gave me hope for the future of Africa

-   It has the power to free Africa from the bondage of poverty

-   CAN is making a huge difference to the lives of children and is also ensuring a better future for the children and the world